Pahalgam LIVE: Will hunt down every terrorist involved, says Amit Shah
Citing "cross-border linkages" to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, India has promised severe punishment to those involved in the strike
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday (May 1) vowed to hunt down each and every terrorist involved in the Pahalgam attack and said all of them will be made answerable for the heinous act.
Shah asserted that the Narendra Modi government will not spare any terrorist. "Whoever has carried out the dastardly attack in Pahalgam, we will not spare anyone. We will hunt down each and every perpetrator," he said at an event in Delhi to unveil a statue of Upendra Nath Brahma, the patriarch of Assam's Bodo community, and name a road after him.
The home minister said the Modi government has been pursuing a zero-tolerance policy against terrorists. "If someone thinks they will escape by carrying out such a cowardly attack, they are wrong. This is Narendra Modi's government. We will not spare anyone," he said.
7th incident in a row
Meanwhile, Pakistani troops continued ceasefire violations along the Line of Control for the seventh consecutive night by their unprovoked firing in several sectors across three border districts of Jammu and Kashmir, and the Indian military responded proportionately, officials said on Thursday (May 1).
The exchange of fire occurred even though the directors general of military operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan spoke over the hotline on Tuesday amid rising tensions between the two countries over the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22.
“During the night of April 30-May 1, 2025, Pakistan Army posts initiated unprovoked small arms fire across the Line of Control opposite Kupwara, Uri, and Akhnoor in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir,” a Defence spokesperson in Jammu said.
Indian Army troops responded swiftly and proportionately, he added.
India closes airspace
Meanwhile, India on Wednesday closed its airspace for Pakistani airlines, a week after Islamabad took a similar step.
On April 24, Pakistan blocked its airspace for Indian airlines, closed the Wagah border crossing, suspended all trade with India, and stated that any attempt to divert water meant for Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty would be considered an "act of war."
This came after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty following the killing of 26 people in the Pahalgam terror attack.
NSAB revamped
The Centre has also revamped the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) — a move that came amid speculations about India's possible retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack in view of its cross-border linkages.
It is learnt that former R&AW chief Alok Joshi has been appointed as NSAB chairman. The NSAB is an advisory body that provides inputs to the National Security Council Secretariat.
During a high-level meeting, which was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and the chiefs of three services, Modi affirmed that it is the national resolve to deal a crushing blow to terrorism, government sources said.
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Live Updates
- 1 May 2025 9:19 AM IST
Pakistan ISI chief appointed as new NSA
According to Express Tribune, ISI chief Lieutenant General Mohammad Asim Malik has been appointed Pakistan’s new National Security Adviser (NSA) amid strained India-Pakistan ties following the Pahalgam terror attack.
- 1 May 2025 9:17 AM IST
US committed to cooperation with India to confront terrorism: Rubio
The US is committed to cooperation with India to confront terrorism, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio conveyed this to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in a phone conversation that came amid escalating tension between India and Pakistan over the Pahalgam terror attack.
The US State Department said Rubio "expressed his sorrow for the lives lost in the horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam, and reaffirmed the United States' commitment to cooperation with India against terrorism." "He also encouraged India to work with Pakistan to de-escalate tensions and maintain peace and security in South Asia," it said.
- 1 May 2025 9:07 AM IST
US Secretary of State Rubio speaks to Jaishankar, Pak PM
The US has encouraged India and Pakistan to de-escalate tensions, reaffirming its commitment to cooperate with Delhi against terrorism and urging Islamabad’s cooperation in investigating the “unconscionable" Pahalgam terror attack.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke separately with External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday.
In his call with Jaishankar, Rubio expressed his sorrow for the lives lost in the “horrific” terrorist attack in Pahalgam that had killed 26 civilians, mostly tourists.
Rubio “reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to cooperation with India against terrorism. He also encouraged India to work with Pakistan to de-escalate tensions and maintain peace and security in South Asia,” a statement issued by State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said.
In his conversation with Sharif, Rubio spoke of the need to condemn the terror attack on April 22 in Pahalgam and urged Pakistani officials’ cooperation in investigating "this unconscionable attack." He also encouraged Pakistan to work with India to de-escalate tensions, re-establish direct communications, and maintain peace and security in South Asia.
Rubio and Sharif “reaffirmed their continued commitment to holding terrorists accountable for their heinous acts of violence.
- 1 May 2025 8:41 AM IST
Pakistan violates LoC ceasefire for 7th straight night
Pakistani troops continued ceasefire violations along the Line of Control for the seventh consecutive night by its unprovoked firing in several sectors across three border districts of Jammu and Kashmir and the Indian military responded proportionately, officials said on Thursday.
The exchange of fire occurred even though the directors general of military operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan spoke over the hotline on Tuesday amid rising tensions between the two countries over the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22.
“During the night of April 30-May 1, 2025, Pakistan Army posts initiated unprovoked small arms fire across the Line of Control opposite Kupwara, Uri, and Akhnoor in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir,” a Defence spokesperson in Jammu said.
Indian Army troops responded swiftly and proportionately, he added.
Initially commencing with unprovoked small arms firing at several posts along the LoC in Kupwara and Baramulla districts of north Kashmir, Pakistan swiftly expanded its ceasefire violation to the Poonch sector and subsequently to the Akhnoor sector of the Jammu region.
It was followed by small arms firing on several posts along the LoC in the Sunderbani and Naushera sectors of Rajouri district on Tuesday night. Subsequently, it expanded the firing to the Pargwal sector along the International Border in Jammu district.
Since the night of April 24, just hours after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty following the killing of 26 people in the terror attack, Pakistani troops have been resorting to unprovoked firing at various places along the LoC in J&K, beginning from the Kashmir Valley.
The Pakistan military has been warned against the unprovoked firings, people familiar with the DGMO talks said.
- 30 April 2025 11:11 PM IST
India bans Pakistan airlines from using Indian airspace
India on Wednesday banned Pakistan airlines from using its airspace amid escalating tensions with the neighbouring country in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack.
Sources said that a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) has been issued that bars Pakistan airlines from using the Indian airspace.
The development comes a week after Pakistan barred Indian carriers from using its airspace.
- 30 April 2025 10:34 PM IST
Pakistan warns of strong response if 'provoked'
Pakistan on Wednesday said it has nothing to do with the Pahalgam terror attack and threatened a strong response if it is "provoked", amid rising tensions with India.
Addressing a press conference alongside Army spokesman Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry and Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan, Dar demanded an independent and transparent probe by neutral investigators in the Pahalgam attack.
The press conference came hours after Information Minister Attaullah Tarar warned of a possible military action by India in 24-36 hours.
- 30 April 2025 8:59 PM IST
Exercise restraint : Qatar, Saudi, Kuwait urge India, Pak over Pahalgam attack
Expressing concern over the escalation between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait on Wednesday urged both sides to exercise restraint and resolve the crisis through diplomatic channels.
Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement, reiterated the nation's "full support for all efforts aimed at de-escalating tensions" between India and Pakistan and addressing their outstanding issues through dialogue and peaceful means.
"Dialogue remains the optimal approach for addressing regional and international crises and disputes," the statement said, expressing Qatar's "deep concern" over the escalation between India and Pakistan.
It called on the two countries to "exercise maximum restraint, prevail the voice of wisdom, respect the principles of good neighbourliness and resolve the crisis through diplomatic channels." Expressing its concern over the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan and the continued exchange of fire along the border areas, Saudi Arabia's foreign affairs ministry, in a statement, said, “The Kingdom calls on both countries to de-escalate, avoid further escalation, and resolve disputes through diplomatic means." It urged India and Pakistan to uphold the principles of good neighbourliness, and strive for stability and peace for the welfare of their people and region.
Kuwait's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement, said it is following with "great concern and interest" the tension between "the friendly" India and Pakistan.
"The ministry affirms Kuwait's firm and unwavering position in supporting the diplomatic process and emphasising reason and dialogue in resolving all regional and international issues. The ministry also calls on all parties to exercise self-restraint, avoid escalation, and adhere to the provisions and rules of international law and the principles of good neighbourliness, with the aim of achieving constructive dialogue that achieves regional and international security and stability," the statement said.
- 30 April 2025 8:51 PM IST
India reaches out to non-permanent UNSC members over Pahalgam attack
India on Wednesday reached out to Denmark in line with its diplomatic overdrive to apprise the non-permanent members of the UN Security Council about the brutal Pahalgam terror attack with cross-border linkages.
On Tuesday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to his counterparts from seven non-permanent member nations of the UN Security Council.
Jaishankar held a phone conversation with his Danish counterpart Lars Lokke Rasmussen on Wednesday and is understood to have conveyed to him India's resolve to bring the perpetrators of the April 22 attack to justice.
"Spoke with FM @larsloekke of Denmark. Appreciate his support and solidarity over the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. Also exchanged views about our bilateral cooperation," he wrote on X.
Jaishankar's phone conversations with foreign ministers of the non-permanent member nations of the UN Security Council assumes significance as Pakistan is also a member of the influential UN body for the 2025-26 period.
The external affairs minister held conversations with his counterparts from Algeria, Greece, Guyana, Panama, Slovenia, Sierra Leone and Somalia on Tuesday.
